ALLEN PARK -- Jeff Backus' streak of 186 straight starts will be on the line Thursday.

The Detroit Lions left tackle has not missed a game or a start since he was drafted in the first round in 2001.

It's an amazing streak, that might be broken due to a hamstring injury he suffered on Sunday. Although Backus has not been ruled out.

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"If he's not there it's going to be different, shoot I know he wants to play, I know he's going to try his best, so I don't know,'' center Dominic Raiola said.

"It's hard to think about him not being out there, we've got to move forward. He'll be the first one to say we have to move forward and play without him.''

Backus, who never has much to say, didn't talk to the media on Tuesday. He didn't practice but watched from the sidelines.

Like Raiola said, Backus was born to be a football player. He doesn't want to be a spectator. The two have played together in 182 career games.

"More than a streak, he's a person you can count on, his accountability level is unbelievable, so I think it's more that, I don't think it's the numbers, I don't think it's the streak, I don't think it's the games in a row,'' Raiola said. "I think he wants to be out there with us, I think that's the biggest thing.''

In the playoff game in January, Backus tore his biceps late in the game. It was severe enough to require surgery.

"He was trying to wrap it and go back in the game, it was like a minute left in the game and we were down two or three scores,'' Raiola said. "So just that will give you a little example in the mind of Jeff Backus. He was born to play football and that's what he does.''

He doesn't want to sit and watch, but he also will do what's best for the team.

"An athlete takes pride in their performance and their abilities. But their availability is extremely important to be able to have that long of games, but all those games since he's been in the league, I think I certainly means a lot,'' coach Jim Schwartz said.

Backus was injured Sunday and rookie Riley Reiff filled in at left tackle.

That will be the case on Thursday if Backus can't go.

Riley, who like Backus is shy around the media, said he will be ready to go.

"Riley, he's a big boy now, he's played in a lot of the games. He's played a lot of snaps in many games, he's been singled up with D ends a lot. I'm not worried about Riley,'' Raiola said. "He's not a pup any more. I think he'd be the first to say he can handle it. I believe in him. I've seen him work his butt off and progress.''

Reiff, a first-round draft pick, has played in every game this season, lining up as the sixth tackle/tight end. Sunday was his first stint at left tackle.

"The only way he's going to get better is go in there and play more,'' Raiola said. "I thought he did a good job against Green Bay, I expect him to be a professional and step right in there this week. We're not going to make any excuses, no explanations. He's the next guy in.''